Operation Freedom Paws

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Operation Freedom Paws

Operation Freedom Paws empowers veterans and others with disabilities to live a quality life.

The program shall consist of but not be limited to the following services:
* provide service dogs to veterans and others with disabilities.
* assist veterans and others with disabilities to train their own service dogs
* obtain appropriate dogs from various sources including but not limited to shelters, rescue groups, and dog breeders provide ongoing support for veterans and others with disabiliti

es and their service dogs
* create a training facility and kennel.
* educate and raise awareness in the public and private sector about disabled individuals and service dog team partnerships.

07/12/2024

A day that will live in infamy—December 7, 1941. On this day, 2,403 military and civilian lives were tragically lost, forever changing the course of history. Today, we honor the bravery, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of the Greatest Generation who answered the call to serve during World War II. Their courage and commitment not only shaped the world we live in but protected it from the darkness of tyranny. We will never forget the lives lost, nor the men and women who stood in the face of unimaginable odds to safeguard the freedoms we hold dear.

07/12/2024

If you're looking for some holiday fun this weekend, come out and join us at the Morgan Hill Annual Holiday Lights Parade tomorrow night at 5:30pm hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Morgan Hill! Mary will be riding with the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce team. It has been Operation Freedom Paws honor to be their 2024 "Nonprofit of the Year." Look for this merry crew to be riding on the El Toro Wine Trolley. This is a beautiful, community holiday tradition. Ho ho hope to see you there!🎅

07/12/2024

Friday Philosophy: "We don’t need to be reminded of our limitations. We need to be reminded of our possibilities." - Terry Fox, athlete and cancer research activist

48% of OFP graduates report an increase in their quality of life.

06/12/2024

🌟 A Huge Thank You to Our Supporters! 🌟

We want to thank everyone again who donated, supported, and shared our "Early Intervention" campaign! Your intervention makes all the difference. The power of this community is helping to offset costs, so we can continue to make critical program resources possible, such as trainers and mental health therapists on-site at every class, veterinary care and vaccinations for OFP dogs, and training excursions that help our clients navigate their daily lives with more independence, confidence and hope.

A special thank you to Steve, James, Lisa, Eileen, and Ben for sharing their powerful messages and stories and showing how your support is helping them make profound changes in their lives.

And some exciting news! 🎉 Yesterday, we welcomed our 575th client into the program! (not pictured here) This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without your continued support. Thank you, OFP community, for being an essential partner in helping to save lives at both ends of the leash!

05/12/2024

We are filled with immense gratitude for this incredible community and your support of our "Early Intervention Saves Lives" campaign. Thank you to everyone who donated, supported, and helped bring hope and resources that will profoundly impact the lives of our clients, their families, and the service dogs who are a medical lifeline. A special thank you to our clients who shared their personal journeys — your stories inspire us all.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow during our Thursday Thank You! We couldn't continue this vital work without you!💖

04/12/2024

: Early Intervention Saves Lives.

As we wrap up our shares, there is still time to intervene and help make critical resources for our clients and their families possible.

If you haven't seen our mentor-trainer Steve's video yet, we are sharing it here tonight (full length video on our platform). Deepest thanks to Steve for sharing his story.🙏

We are so grateful to all of you who are donating and helping us empower more lives to be saved at both ends of the leash and families to find hope and healing.

Ways to Give: Help us finish strong💪
OFP Platform: https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com
Facebook: Click the "Donate" button on this post.
Mobile: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

04/12/2024

: Early Intervention Saves Lives

"I no longer hide in my home. I am starting to live again, knowing that there are many people at OFP supporting my journey. I know I have a lifeline at the end of the leash. I can do life with my dog again." - Lisa with her service dog, Mozzie

Lisa is a powerful example of how early intervention can make the difference between a medical condition escalating and isolating someone, or stepping out into the world with a vital tool to navigate it—her service dog, Mozzie. Lisa has learned to train Mozzie to alert her to changes in her body chemistry, enabling her to take action and manage her complex trauma. Mozzie also provides deep pressure therapy (DPT), offering calming pressure, like a weighted blanket, to help Lisa center herself and de-escalate anxiety.

An incredibly talented artist, since working with the program, Lisa has returned to creating beautiful artwork as part of her healing journey, like the one we're sharing here- that's pencil!🙌

This , YOU can help make more healing stories like Lisa’s possible.

Ways to Give a Lifesaving Gift:
OFP Platform: https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com
Facebook: Click the "Donate" button on this post.
Mobile: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

03/12/2024

: Early Intervention Saves Lives. This is an excerpt from our client James personal journey.

"An absolute angel who came into my life, Tyrren, chose me and all my "oses" (neuroses, psychoses) to love unconditionally and guide me back from the brink of extinction to live a full life in the sun. I owe her my life and more because I no longer survive; I thrive.

I lost my service dog three times in three months. Suddenly, she became very ill and required hospitalization for well over a week. In our nine and a half years together, this was the first time we were separated, with her in strange surroundings and none of her people. She came home a very different dog. She stopped cuddling and giving kisses. Within a few weeks, she let me know that she was done working. Medical complications continued, and shortly thereafter, she let me know it was that time. Her story had come to its completion. What of mine? There is an incredible sense of loss when a dog passes—a constant companion, a cherished friend, a loved member of the family. When the oxygen tank empties, we replace it. What happens when the oxygen tank is the dog?

Another angel has come to my side. JB is an 8-year-old, 60-pound male Standard Poodle, black, with a dashing chocolate mustache. Tyrren returned me to a life of independence; JB will give me a life of continuing exploration. She was my first step; he will be my next chapter.

We are good at giving credit to those who save our lives. Mary and OFP gave me something even more precious, the ability to save my own life." - Army Veteran James (pictured here with her service dog JB)

Early intervention was crucial when James lost Tyrren, as she shared Tyrren was like her oxygen. When you make a lifesaving gift today, you are empowering to us walk beside our clients at every stage of their lives - especially the difficult ones. In this case, James needed something right away to keep her here with us. JB was the answer. It’s not something we would normally do (continuing a client's journey with an 8 year old service dog) but it was so needed. The timing was right for both of them. They make one heck of a new team and both have purpose again!

Ways to Give:
OFP Platform: https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com
Facebook: Click the "Donate" button on this post.
Mobile: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

03/12/2024

"I learned about OFP from my boyfriend Dylan, who got & trained his service dog Liberty there. When Dylan passed away unexpectedly in 2022, OFP and Liberty helped me survive that loss. When Liberty died shortly after, I thought my world would end. OFP made sure it didn’t by teaming me up Huey. Working with him and OFP helped me realize my life was not over, and that I could move forward with him by my side." – Eileen (pictured with OFP Therapy Dog Huey)

Early intervention saves lives. The right resources and support at the right time can help someone find a path forward after unimaginable loss. Huey has become an amazing therapy dog, allowing Eileen to continue to thrive and give back to those who need early intervention and comfort.

This , you have the power to offer that lifeline. Your donation to Early Intervention Saves Lives will provide the critical resources and support needed to help individuals like Eileen rebuild their lives with hope.

Ways to Give a Lifesaving Gift:
OFP Platform: https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com
Facebook: Click the "Donate" button on this post.
Mobile: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

03/12/2024

Welcome to our "Early Intervention Saves Lives" Campaign! Today YOUR invention with a lifesaving gift can help create a turning point in the life of a veteran and their family!

"Kai made me realize I need to be honest with myself, I can't fix a problem while actively ignoring it or making excuses. It's OKAY to not be OKAY. Kai has changed my life and my family for the better." – Army Veteran Ben (picture with his service dog Kai).

Veterans carry heavy burdens—self-blame, survivor’s guilt, moral injury and the lasting effects of trauma. The physical and psychological toll impacts not just them, but their families too. Asking for help is incredibly difficult. So when they ask, we need to be there to answer. Without early intervention, veterans face isolation, anxiety, anger, and depression. The weight can be too much to bear when they are not armed with the tools to face their trauma.

There are 5.3 million veterans living with service-connected disabilities, many of whom struggle with these challenges. Through OFP’s 48-week training program, which includes mental health services at no cost to veterans and their families, they gain the tools, support, and community they need to move forward. The dogs they train to support their disabilities—like Kai—are pulled from shelters and rescues, giving them a second chance at life, just like the veterans they help.

Ways to Give:
OFP Platform: https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com
Facebook: Click the "Donate" button on this post.
Mobile: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

02/12/2024

Mentoring Monday: As you consider the many worthy recipients for your charitable donations this season, please keep OFP in mind. Since 2010, our donors and dedicated staff & volunteers have enabled us to help over 570 clients, rescue hundreds of dogs from shelters, and change the lives of thousands of clients’ family members. Early clients are now circling back to us as their beloved service dogs age out or pass away. We’re here to help them through the heartbreaking loss of dogs that have been their constant support for years. We’re here to match them with a dog they’ll train to alert them to current medical issues, which have changed since they first came to us. But they know where to turn, because we’ve stayed in touch. Costs have increased, but we’ve got more tools to help clients and families than we did in 2010. In 2017 we started surveying clients who certified, and they have reported a 64% decrease in suicidal thoughts since they started with OFP. That’s how we know this program is effective…and getting better. Please help us continue to save lives!

Four Paws, Two Feet, One Team
https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com
📱 Mobile Donations: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

30/11/2024

Early Intervention Saves Lives.

With early intervention, a diabetic can prevent hypoglycemic shock. A migraine sufferer can avoid a debilitating attack. A veteran or first responder with service-related PTS can be awakened from night terrors before they escalate and grounded in the present. According to the Veterans Administration, 30% of all veterans have been diagnosed with a service-related injury, and many more go undiagnosed.

For our clients facing these challenges, gaining the skills to manage life-threatening medical conditions with a service dog gives them back control over their lives. Service dog alerts empower our clients to take action early, preventing a crisis before it happens.

This Giving Tuesday weekend, we need your help. Every dollar you donate helps offset rising service costs and ensures that trainers and mental health therapists will be on-site for every class in 2025.

Your early intervention today can prevent a medical crisis tomorrow. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation: https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com
Facebook Donations: Click the "Donate" Button on this post.
📱 Mobile Donations: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

29/11/2024

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Are you taking advantage of Black Friday deals today? If you're shopping at Target and live in Salinas, Sand City, Capitola, Gilroy, Hollister, Morgan Hill, Scotts Valley, or Watsonville, we have a quick favor to ask.

If you're not already a Target Circle member, please consider signing up! Your purchases help you earn votes, which you can cast in your account to gift OFP's mission! It's a simple way to give back while you shop! 🎁

If you don’t live in these areas, we’d appreciate a share so we can connect with more of our OFP community who does.

Here's how to get started:
Step 1: Choose ‘My Target’ in the Target app or ‘Account’ on Target.com
Step 2: Tap ‘Cast votes’
Step 3: Find us & vote

To learn more about Target Circle and get all the details, go to: www.target.com/circle

28/11/2024

Mary here
Today, we give thanks for you—our amazing supporters, staff, clients, their families and community. Your generosity and dedication make it possible for us to empower individuals every day to have hope for tomorrow and live life. As you celebrate this special day with your loved ones, know that Operation Freedom Paws is grateful for the difference you make. Wishing you a warm and joyful Thanksgiving! 🧡

28/11/2024

So much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving—our amazing families, friends, staff, therapists, and supporters who make our work possible. We're especially grateful for our clients and their families who trust us to help them navigate a new normal, and for the incredible four-legged lifelines who make that journey a little easier every day.

To our military and first responders, whose service takes them away from home and loved ones, we see you and are deeply grateful for all you do. You are a big reason why we can gather around our tables and give thanks today.

Wishing everyone a relaxing, joyful Thanksgiving...and as you can see from this photo, Christmas is right around the corner!

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+14086839010

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http://www.operationfreedompaws.org/

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Videos

#GivingTuesday: Early Intervention Saves Lives. As we wrap up our #GivingTuesday shares, there is still time to intervene and help make critical resources for our clients and their families possible. If you haven't seen our mentor-trainer Steve's video yet, we are sharing it here tonight (full length video on our platform). Deepest thanks to Steve for sharing his story.🙏 We are so grateful to all of you who are donating and helping us empower more lives to be saved at both ends of the leash and families to find hope and healing. Ways to Give: Help us finish strong💪 OFP #GivingTuesday Platform: https://OFPGT2024.givesmart.com Facebook: Click the "Donate" button on this post. Mobile: Text OFPGT2024 to 76278

Our OFP Fundraising Champions, like K9 Niko, have been getting really creative with their fundraising efforts leading up to our 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala on August 3rd! We really hope you'll join us, there's still time, but tickets are selling out fast. If you're unable to attend but wish to make a donation to support our biggest fundraiser of the year, this is a great way to do it! You can see all our amazing champions on our event platform; many are veterans and first responders themselves. They're dedicated to fundraising for our mission, but they need your help! It only takes a few minutes to donate and make a life-changing impact. Thank you OFP community for your invaluable support!🙏🙏🙏 OFP 13th Annual "Paws with Patriots" Wine Gala Platform (scroll down to the OFP Champion Fundraisers to help them meet their goal: https://pawswithpats24.givesmart.com

Mary always speaks from the heart. Here's her acceptance speech for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce "2024 Nonprofit of the Year".

This New Year's Eve, we're sharing one final heartfelt message to you all from our founder and executive director Mary Cortani for 2023. We hope you'll take a few minutes to watch before welcoming in 2024. ➡️Online Giving Platform: (quick, easy, and highly secure) https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com ➡️Mobile Donations: text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

Day 9 of OFP's 10 Days of Giving: These are the final hours of giving in 2023! Today you can make one donation that helps transform two lives and heals families - like our client CJ. Earlier this week we shared a preview of CJ and Rosco's (a pup at risk of being euthanized) inspirational story. If you haven't had a chance to see the full video, here it is. It only takes a few minutes to watch and understand the life changing impact your donations make. Thank you to CJ's family for sharing their story and for their commitment to his healing journey in the program. Please share this post and consider a donation today. If we all do what we can to help, we can empower more healing journeys like CJ's together.❤️‍🩹 ➡️Online Giving Platform: (quick, easy, and highly secure) https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com ➡️Mobile Donations: text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

Day 7 of OFP's 10 Days of Holiday Giving: After suffering the loss of his first service dog, Zane, Angel didn't know how to continue his healing journey without him. Zane had been his right hand, his six o'clock, helping him to manage the invisible wounds of military service. Until he reached out to Mary for help and she made an introduction she knew he needed. Our journey with our clients isn't for a season, it's for a lifetime. That would not be possible without your year-end tax-deduction donations. Every healing journey taken starts with your giving - that's why it's so crucial. Will you help another veteran start their healing journey in the New Year? CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANGEL'S FULL STORY and to donate. Every $1 donated helps to save 2 lives and heal families. Thank you to our client Angel for bravely sharing his story. https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com Mobile Donations: text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

Over the past two years, Cristiano suffered 45 major seizures, then he was paired with Rosco. A mother shares the journey to give her son a bright future and her family a peace of mind they'd never known before. You can preview Cristiano's story here, then join our giving platform to see the full video. It only takes a few minutes to watch this incredibly inspiring story that moved us all to good tears. CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL VIDEO: https://ofpendofyear23.givesmart.com ➡️Mobile Donations: Text ofpendofyear23 to 76278

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